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Ingredients For A Fabulous Life
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When it comes time to celebrate your love, why not do a little something special for Valentine’s Day? Or evening…
This year I decided hubby and I would take a trip to Spain on Valentine’s evening, with a Romantic Tapas for Two spread. I think you’ll find that a journey to the Mediterranean can inspire plenty romance in your home too!
When you want to have a romantic evening with your sweetheart, you don’t want to spend all your time in the kitchen.
That’s why I made sure that the menu I created was very much “do ahead”, with very little last minute preparation.
Plan to spend some time in the kitchen getting the prep work done before the day you want to serve your Romantic Tapas for Two.
In fact, my recipe for Spanish Chorizo & Shallots in Red Wine MUST be given time to soak in the red wine after cooking. At least 8 hours, but overnight is definitely preferable. See, just like I planned it!
And the Garlic & Gorgonzola Cheese Spread for the Tapas Garlic Toasts with Assorted Toppings can be made up to 3 days in advance.
So you can see, this Valentine’s celebration is really a “romance friendly” one when you create your own Romantic Tapas for Two. I’m using my coffee table to set up the Tapas spread. I’ll have it all ready to “drop” the food on right before we get settled in for the evening way beforehand too.
If you have everything all set to go, you’ll have plenty of time to get “dolled up” for your evening of romance. Just remember to have the champagne or custom cocktail chilling before you get ready!
I’ve created some more really special Valentine’s Day printables and recipes to help you celebrate your day of romance too!
Now let’s get started with the menu for your Romantic Tapas for Two Valentine’s celebration!
This lively and bright vinaigrette is fabulous when used to douse chilled mussels. The tangy flavor profile of the sauce perfectly compliments the briny flavors of fresh steamed chilled mussels.
Since these tasty morsels are best eaten nicely chilled, you’ll want to cook the mussels in the morning on the day you serve them. You’ll let them chill in the tangy vinaigrette all day, and when you’re ready to eat, they’ll be ready and waiting!
Notice that I’ve shown you two different plating ideas. The first is to present them in a low-flat container that makes it easy to grab and pop in your mouth. The second presentation is a bit fancier, using chilled martini glasses to help class up your buffet!
Either way, make sure you provide a pretty container to dispose of the shells while feeding each other Chilled Mussels in Tangy Vinaigrette!
CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE: CHILLED MUSSELS IN TANGY VINAIGRETTE
Flavored with spicy Mediterranean ingredients, these potatoes get an extra boost of intensity from fabulous Spanish sherry. They’re a wonderful Tapas treat, especially when combined with a whole Tapas-style meal.
My Spanish Patatas Bravas is one of the most traditional tapas recipes you’ll encounter. I’ve eaten them in Spain as part of a “tapas tour” in Barcelona and across the United States.
They appear with slight variations from place to place, but the basics are always the same. Potatoes, tomatoes, onions and smoky paprika.
This version kicks up the Spanish flavors a bit more with the addition of a good quality Spanish Sherry. It makes all the difference, so please don’t skip this ingredient!
CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE: SPANISH PATATAS BRAVAS
Spicy Spanish chorizo becomes intensely flavored when cooked and steeped a bold red wine and sweet sauteed shallots. Speared with toothpicks, Spanish Chorizo & Shallots in Red Wine is a fabulous tapas dish when served with crusty French bread.
As I mentioned before, this dish needs to be started at least the day before. The great part is it can be made up to 2 days before serving.
The chorizo only requires a fast reheating, and the final flambé treatment with some more of that fabulous Spanish sherry you bought! Why buy a whole bottle and not use it twice?
This is one of those incredibly simple dishes that is truly more than the sum of its parts! Do Not Skip This Recipe!
Unless you’re a vegetarian, of course! In that case, let’s talk about the next recipe in your Romantic Tapas for Two menu…
CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE: SPANISH CHORIZO & SHALLOTS IN RED WINE
My Tapas Garlic Toasts with Assorted Toppings is a tasty combination of garlic toasts with Mediterranean flavors that will please everyone’s taste buds! These delicious bruscetta-style toasts are a perfect addition to any Spanish Tapas-style meal.
Here’s my three different topping suggestions that should really help you “channel” your inner-Spaniard!
CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE: TAPAS GARLIC TOASTS WITH ASSORTED TOPPINGS
Remember those romantic Valentine’s printables I mentioned earlier? Here’s how to get exclusive access to the IFAFL Subscribers Resource Library.
Want your own set of VALENTINE’S DAY ROMANTIC PRINTABLES, but you’re not on our list yet?
Why not join in on the fun!
Fill out the form below and I’ll send you a copy as a thank you for joining the IFAFL Email Subscriber List.
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What are you waiting for? You don’t want to miss out on anything fabulous, do you?
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And while you’re at it, come join the gang in our Facebook group and get in on the gabfest at, The Fab Life! That’s where we show off our triumphs and share our pursuit of “the good life” with each other all week long.